Firms spend money on launch of Copilot enterprise transformation apply, new capabilities and shopper coaching to speed up and scale gen AI adoption
Copilot allows transformation for shoppers similar to Repsol and Bricorama
Editor’s notice — Nov. 14, 2024 — The press launch beneath was up to date to hyperlink to Accenture AI Refinery.
NEW YORK and REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 14, 2024 — In a strategic transfer to handle the unprecedented demand for AI transformation, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Avanade, their three way partnership with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), are launching a copilot enterprise transformation apply, supported by Microsoft, and co-investing in new capabilities, options and coaching to assist organizations securely and responsibly reinvent their enterprise capabilities with generative and agentic AI and Copilot applied sciences.
“The funding we’re making with Microsoft takes our long-standing partnership to the following degree, serving to our shoppers speed up and combine AI at scale as a catalyst for reinvention,” stated Julie Candy, chair and CEO, Accenture. “The highly effective mixture of Microsoft Copilot, agentic and generative AI applied sciences, and Avanade’s and Accenture’s deep {industry} and purposeful experience will assist allow enterprises to reimagine their processes and operations, uncover revolutionary methods of working, strengthen their safety and open up new pathways to worth.”
The Copilot enterprise transformation apply will present the know-how and {industry} expertise shoppers want to assist speed up and develop their use of Copilot and brokers throughout the enterprise. The businesses will collaborate on AI and Copilot agent templates, extensions, plugins and connectors to assist organizations leverage their information and gen AI to cut back prices, enhance efficiencies and drive development. The businesses will assist shoppers leverage Microsoft’s gen AI-powered safety capabilities to raise the effectivity of their safety operations and assist analysts make higher, sooner selections.
The apply consists of 5,000 professionals from Accenture and Avanade, supported by Microsoft product specialists who will work carefully with the Accenture Middle for Superior AI. The workforce will faucet into greater than 50,000 Microsoft Copilot-trained professionals throughout Accenture and Avanade to assist ship {industry} and purposeful transformation. Shoppers may have entry to specialised engineers and early entry to the most recent applied sciences, together with the Accenture AI Refinery™, to create customized fashions and options. Accenture will leverage learnings from its use and deployment of 100,000 Microsoft 365 Copilots and brokers, with a dedication to develop to roughly 200,000 customers.
“We’re happy to deepen our collaboration with Accenture to assist our mutual prospects develop AI-first enterprise processes responsibly and securely, whereas serving to them drive market differentiation,” stated Judson Althoff, government vp and chief business officer at Microsoft. “By bringing collectively Copilots and human ambition, paired with the autonomous capabilities of an agent, we are able to speed up AI transformation for organizations throughout industries and assist them understand profitable enterprise outcomes by pragmatic innovation.”
Accenture and Avanade have already developed brokers to streamline workflows, increase income and improve buyer expertise. For instance, a provider discovery and danger agent can ship real-time market insights, agile provide chain responses and higher vendor choice, which might lead to as much as 15% price financial savings. A procure-to-pay agent might enhance effectivity by as much as 40% and improve vendor relations and satisfaction by addressing pressing fee necessities and avoiding disruptions of key providers. They’ve additionally invested in constructing purposeful and {industry} Copilot options which can be delivering shopper worth, together with:
- Microsoft 365 Copilot – The businesses have developed Microsoft 365 Copilot options similar to a readiness evaluation and worth accelerator, amongst others, to assist shoppers successfully implement and efficiently undertake and scale the know-how for max worth. They’re serving to Repsol, a world multi-energy firm, deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot and a 4 month examine has proven spectacular outcomes. Staff are saving a gross common of 121 minutes per week, enhancing productiveness and the standard of outputs by 16%. Moreover, 61% favor the AI-enhanced workflows, noting improved confidence and motivation. Productiveness features have been most vital in technical {and professional} roles, with engineering roles saving almost 97 hours yearly per worker. Upkeep roles noticed even larger advantages, saving about 225 minutes weekly, which considerably enhanced the precision and consistency required of their duties. These outcomes underscore the transformative potential of generative AI in optimizing enterprise operations and boosting worker satisfaction throughout the board.
- Business and Useful Copilots – Collectively, the businesses have developed Copilots for a wide range of industries and capabilities together with finance, manufacturing, provide chain, retail and shopper items and healthcare. For instance, they developed a Manufacturing Copilot powered by Microsoft Manufacturing Knowledge Options in Cloth, to remodel the store flooring and the best way manufacturing facility employees function.
- Customized Copilots and Brokers – The businesses are utilizing Microsoft Copilot Studio to increase foundational Copilots, like Microsoft 365 Copilot and {industry} and role-based Copilots, with enterprise information to create autonomous brokers that act on sure triggers or on the intent of the person to implement AI-powered, accountable and environment friendly workflows. Avanade and Accenture helped Bricorama, a French house enchancment retailer, create a customized house enchancment Copilot referred to as “pAInt.” The pAInt app makes use of Azure OpenAI to information prospects by their tasks.
Udacity, a part of Accenture LearnVantage, and Microsoft have co-created a brand new Azure Generative AI Engineer Nanodegree program to equip learners with the talents to design, construct, and operationalize AI-driven purposes on Azure. On this totally on-line program, learners will use AI fashions to resolve real-world issues by automation, information insights, and generative AI options. Learners will develop customized Microsoft 365 Copilot purposes and implement fashions by hands-on tasks with personalised assist from {industry} advisors. Udacity’s Nanodegree program is out there right now and, for a restricted time, learners can get began with the primary lesson without cost.
Deeper collaboration
Accenture will proceed to assist Microsoft within the transformation of its capabilities – together with finance, gross sales, advertising and HR – with Copilot, leveraging its {industry}, purposeful and generative AI consulting providers. Microsoft additionally chosen Accenture to ascertain 4 Microsoft Co-Innovation Labs to incubate blueprints for AI-led design and experimentation, with immersive showcases inside Accenture places of work and Microsoft Co-Innovation Labs. On the labs, the businesses will construct pilots, leveraging property developed by the Copilot enterprise transformation apply, to encourage reinvention.
Having seen the worth of Microsoft Copilot in its enterprise, Accenture will leverage the most recent Copilot agentic applied sciences to facilitate AI enabled augmentation and assist remodel shoppers’ enterprise processes throughout company capabilities and industry-specific operations.
About Accenture
Accenture is a number one international skilled providers firm that helps the world’s main organizations construct their digital core, optimize their operations, speed up income development and improve providers—creating tangible worth at velocity and scale. We’re a talent- and innovation-led firm with roughly 774,000 individuals serving shoppers in additional than 120 nations. Know-how is on the core of change right now, and we’re one of many world’s leaders in serving to drive that change, with robust ecosystem relationships. We mix our energy in know-how and management in cloud, information and AI with unmatched {industry} expertise, purposeful experience and international supply functionality. Our broad vary of providers, options and property throughout Technique & Consulting, Know-how, Operations, Business X and Music, along with our tradition of shared success and dedication to creating 360° worth, allow us to assist our shoppers reinvent and construct trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° worth we create for our shoppers, one another, our shareholders, companions and communities. Go to us at www.accenture.com.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and instruments powered by AI to ship revolutionary options that meet the evolving wants of our prospects. The know-how firm is dedicated to creating AI out there broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower each individual and each group on the planet to realize extra.
About Avanade
Avanade is the world’s main skilled on Microsoft. Trusted by over 5,000 shoppers worldwide, we ship dependable, AI-driven options that clear up enterprise challenges of all sizes and unlock the total potential of individuals and know-how. We empower organizations to make use of Microsoft know-how to optimize operations, drive development, and foster innovation, enabling them to excel in delivering distinctive buyer experiences.
Along with Accenture, we mix international scale with native experience in AI, cloud, information analytics, cybersecurity, and ERP to create human-centered experiences. We’re dedicated to doing what issues for our shoppers, their prospects, staff and companions by designing options that prioritize individuals and drive significant influence.
Since 2000, Avanade has leveraged its shut partnership with Microsoft to deliver the most recent applied sciences to market, serving as Microsoft’s “Consumer Zero” and incomes, with Accenture, Microsoft’s International SI Companion of the 12 months Award a file 19 occasions.
As a purpose-driven and accountable group, Avanade champions range, inclusion, and sustainability, guaranteeing our work advantages society in addition to drives enterprise success.
Avanade. Do what issues. Study extra at www.avanade.com and comply with us on LinkedIn.
Ahead-Wanting Statements
Apart from the historic info and discussions contained herein, statements on this information launch could represent forward-looking statements throughout the which means of the Personal Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Phrases similar to “could,” “will,” “ought to,” “possible,” “anticipates,” “aspires,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “tasks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook,” “aim,” “goal” and related expressions are used to determine these forward-looking statements. These statements are usually not ensures of future efficiency nor guarantees that objectives or targets will likely be met, and contain various dangers, uncertainties and different components which can be tough to foretell and will trigger precise outcomes to vary materially from these expressed or implied. These dangers embrace, with out limitation, that the partnership won’t obtain its anticipated advantages and dangers and uncertainties associated to the event and use of AI might hurt our enterprise, harm our popularity or give rise to authorized or regulatory motion, in addition to the dangers, uncertainties and different components mentioned underneath the “Threat Components” heading in Accenture plc’s most up-to-date Annual Report on Type 10-Okay and different paperwork filed with or furnished to the Securities and Trade Fee. Statements on this information launch converse solely as of the date they have been made, and Accenture undertakes no responsibility to replace any forward-looking statements made on this information launch or to adapt such statements to precise outcomes or modifications in Accenture’s expectations.
Contacts:
Microsoft Media Relations
WE Communications for Microsoft
(425) 638-7777
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Hannah Unkefer
Accenture
206-839-2172
[email protected]
Thomas Wittek
Accenture
+49 152 52507486
[email protected]
Claire Booty
Avanade
+44 7930760031
[email protected]
